The New Jersey National Guard State Family Readiness Council has increased the amounts of family and business grants up to $5,000 and $10,000, respectively. Both grants are known as TIER I grants.

TIER II family grants are also available to New Jersey Army and Air National Guard non-deployed service members who served on State Active Duty or State Missions (e.g., hurricanes, floods, border missions) for more than 20 consecutive days. Service members meeting these criteria are eligible to apply for a financial hardship grant up to $1,500.

Applications are available at all New Jersey Army and Air National Guard Family Assistance Centers.

Assistance for Families of Deployed Servicemembers

If you are a family member of a deployed active duty, National Guard or Reserve Soldier; Marine, Airman, or Sailor, there are several Family Assistance Centers in New Jersey that are here to assist you.

These centers can assist with Identification Cards, TRICARE and dental issues, and also provide emergency referral and assistance with financial and legal issues. Each Family Assistance Center is trained to help families get the support and information they need, as quickly as possible, while lending a sympathetic ear to those in need of one.

To contact a Family Assistance Center closest to your home in New Jersey, call the toll free number 1-888-859-0352.

Federal grant available

A $200,000 grant from the Department of Community Affairs is available for spouses of deployed or recently deployed military.

Typical awards are $2,500 and are available for financial difficulties (such as past due rent and childcare) as well as for recreational and stress relieving activities for kids.

For more information contact Rene Mainor, Military Grant Liaison, Women’s Opportunity Center, YMCA of Burlington County at 609-543-6200 Ext. 325 or by email at wocmilitarygrant@ymca-bc.org.

Guardmembers, become A Recruiting Assistant and for every person you recruit into the new jersey Army or Air national guard you earn $2,000. Login to http://guardrecruitingassistant.com/ pick your branch of service. fill out the application and you are on your way to helping someone make a great career choice and some serious cash for yourself.